Competitive renewal of Day 1 feature in prospect

A field of twenty will go to post for the feature race on day one of the Galway Festival, the €75,000 carlton.ie/galwaycity Qualified Riders Handicap.

Rebecca Curtis, whose partner Gearoid Costello is a nephew of the legendary Tom, sends across Praxiteles with Derek O’Connor booked to ride.

The son of Sadler’s Wells comes here on the back of two wins and is sure to be well fancied to complete his hat-trick.

Another son of that legendary stallion bound to attract plenty of attention is Dermot Weld’s Natural High (4/1 fav with William Hill) with Robbie McNamara up. He has a pretty good record around Ballybrit, and is in good form following a Limerick success last month.

End Of The Affair tops the weights for Vincent Ward and Brian Hayes, whilst below that one is Admiral Barry bidding to repeat last year’s success for Eoin Griffin and Mikey Fogarty.

After his surprise 25/1 win at the Curragh last time out, Silk Hall certainly won’t go off at that price tomorrow with Mikey O’Connor in the saddle.

Rattan who ran a nice race to finish sixth in Royal Ascot over 2m 4f and since finished ninth in a competitive handicap at the Curragh over 1m 4f, may be better suited to this trip of two miles and should put in a bold bid for Willie Mullins and Katie Walsh.

Recent Fairyhouse scorer Kalann, Tom Mullins’ Fosters Cross, six time winner Oneeightofamile and the ex-Ballydoyle trained Table Mountain are others with leading chances in the valuable handicap.

Donal Murphy